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Medical Devices Research Centre facilities

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If you need help finding a solution to your R&D problem, we can help! For access to our advanced scientific infrastructure or to connect with our experts in medical diagnostic technology development and commercialization, contact:

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Research facility highlights

NRC works with industry and clinical clients and collaborators to develop medical devices aimed at saving lives, reducing health care costs and benefiting the Canadian economy. We operate a wide variety of research facilities for use in human, preclinical, tissue/fluid and nano-related studies.

In Boucherville

Our Boucherville site focuses on the development and transfer of easily-deployable medical devices, through innovations in software, materials and manufacturing. We provide an agile and business-oriented prototyping culture that effectively bridges clinical ideas to industry. Our integrated 300m2 laboratory infrastructure combines medical device development, prototyping and testing capabilities for high realism, real-time virtual simulation founded on biological tissue models and processing, components assembly and characterization of synthetic biomaterials.

Functional nanomaterials

NRC Medical Devices Research Centre Boucherville facility is developing the first scientific and technological platform in Canada for the mass production of low-cost micro- and nanosystems. The facility is a leader in the research and development of leading-edge nano-manufacturing processes aimed at numerous industrial sectors such as medicine, genomics, renewable energy and the environment.

The manipulation and structuring of materials at the nanoscale opens up the possibility for revolutionary new applications in many fields of science and industry. NRC nanomaterial research aims at finding alternative methods for producing nanostructured devices using processes that can be scaled up, using low-cost materials, namely polymers.

Virtual reality surgical planner for surgical oncology

NRC researchers are developing a virtual reality (VR) simulator that may one day be used to plan brain surgeries and train new brain surgeons. NRC researchers, from such diverse fields as the simulation of deformable materials, information technology and biodiagnostics, are involved.

Virtual reality simulation, when combined with technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will enable the realistic rehearsal of patient-specific surgical procedures prior to actual surgery. In addition, the availability of VR simulators opens the possibility to more objective surgical training for medical students prior to certification. Clinical adoption of VR simulation will result in accelerated training, rapid adoption of new surgical techniques, better surgeries with minimal risk, and consequently, improved patient care.

In Winnipeg

Our Winnipeg facility focuses on non- or minimally invasive technologies that reduce or eliminate hospital stays, diagnose early stage disease, and allow for intervention or improved treatment. NRC's medical photonics team employs optical methods, such as infrared (IR), near-infrared, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging, that can be used for in vivo medical intervention and surgery. Besides focusing on cardiovascular applications, the team is actively developing dental and cardiovascular applications using Raman and optical coherence tomography (OCT ) technologies.

Medical photonics infrared and optical technologies

The Medical Photonics team develops optical methods such as infrared (IR), near-infrared (NIR), Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging for use in diagnosing such problems as cardiovascular disease and oral health.

Driven by a rapidly aging population in developed countries and anticipated growth in emerging markets, the medical technology market is expected to undergo substantial expansion worldwide. Technologies that reduce or eliminate hospital stays, diagnose early stage disease non- or minimally-invasively, and allow for intervention or improved treatment will be in particular demand. As a result, Medical Photonics will utilize its core competencies to develop medical technologies that meet these requirements.

Working with clinicians and industry, NRC provides customized scientific and technical solutions to healthcare partners with complex R&D needs. The program collaborates with clinicians and promotes the transfer of the optical technologies developed by the program for potential commercialization.

Why work with us

The NRC Medical Devices Research Centre Diagnostics Program provides solutions to the complex R&D needs of diagnostics healthcare clients, offering direct access to advanced scientific infrastructure and expertise in medical diagnostic technology development and commercialization. We deploy these resources to assist Canadian firms in reaching the global market place with medical devices that save lives, improve quality of life, reduce health care costs and benefit the Canadian economy.

Fees

NRC offers an array of R&D facilities and access to highly specialized scientific and commercialization expertise. Contact us to develop a customized, fee-for-service plan to meet your R&D challenges.